An inquiry into the Skype sex scandal at the Defence Force Academy says there is no basis for legal action against its commandant Commodore Bruce Kafer.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith has released the findings of the Defence cultural reviews, the Kirkham inquiry and the DLA Piper review.

Commodore Kafer was told to take leave last April following allegations that video of a consensual sexual encounter at ADFA was transmitted, without the female cadet's knowledge, to other cadets via Skype software.

Two male cadets have since been charged and are scheduled to stand trial in August next year.

Mr Smith at the time was critical of the way the female cadet involved in the incident was treated by Commodore Kafer, in that he chose to hear an unrelated disciplinary matter against the cadet at the same time she was told of the Skype incident.

But the inquiry, conducted by Andrew Kirkham QC, found Commodore Kafer did not err in his handling of disciplinary actions against the female cadet and that there is no legal basis for action against him.

Commodore Kafer will resume duties this week.

"There is no legal basis in the legal inquiry for not returning Commodore Kafer to ADFA. There are no legal grounds for leaving him in a position unassociated with ADFA," Mr Smith said.

Mr Smith said that despite the review's findings, he did not resile from his view of how Commodore Kafer handled the matter.

"One should never inadvertently, or advertently, allow the character of the potential victim of an alleged sexual assault to be brought into play," Mr Smith said.

"That was an error of judgment."

Mr Smith says the Kirkham Inquiry report into ADFA's management of the Skype scandal will not be made public due to "personal details".

"It has been decided that the Kirkham inquiry will not be made public, even in a redacted form," he said.

"When I received advice from Defence that there were difficulties with publication, in the end we came to the conclusion that a redacted copy of the inquiry could not even be released.

"Criminal proceedings are underway... and the inquiry deals with the personal conduct of a number of people and its release would prejudice the wellbeing of certain individuals involved."

Abuse complaints

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has been told it should set up a new body to handle at least 775 complaints about abuse in the Defence Force.

The law firm DLA Piper invited people to come forward with allegations, and says at least 775 are plausible.

But the report detailing them has not been made public.

We realise this plan is not a quick fix - the type of deep and far-reaching reform we are seeking will take time and a sustained effort.

Chief of Defence General David Hurley

The recommendations have been released and include a call for a new body to manage the next stage of investigation.

It says some complainants could go to the courts or use existing compensation schemes, but for many this option will no longer be available.

It finds many people want recognition that they were mistreated, and for them a public apology from the Prime Minister would be appropriate.

The report says this would be appropriate for those subjected to bastardisation when the practice was widespread in Defence.

But other options, including a capped compensation scheme, were also likely to be needed, it said.

Unpleasant, sobering

Defence Department secretary Duncan Lewis described the review as "unpleasant and sobering reading".

But he says addressing the complaints will take time.

"The DLA Piper report is a compilation of plausible allegations. All of these allegations need to be tested and examined and we are going to do that in the next phase," he said.

"With 775 complainants, I do expect that just the sheer volume of that workload will take some time."

The findings of several reviews into Defence culture were also released today in a report titled Pathway to Change: Evolving Defence Culture.

"It is a frank and sober assessment of the past, but it's also a very constructive and positive way forward," Mr Smith said.

It is a frank and sombre assessment of the past, but it's also a very constructive and positive way forward.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith

"The document makes the point that Defence culture has to change."

Chief of Defence General David Hurley says the report has highlighted serious issues which need to be addressed.

"Defence has had a mirror in the form of six reviews held up to it in the last six moths," he said.

"The reviews have pointed out that there are serious issues we must address.

"We realise this plan is not a quick fix - the type of deep and far-reaching reform we are seeking will take time and a sustained effort.

"And as Defence members, we understand that we are quite rightly held to greater standards and greater scrutiny than the rest of Australian society."

Editor's note (11/4/12): An earlier version of this report incorrectly said Duncan Lewis had described the DLA Piper review as frightening and sickening. This has been corrected with his direct quotes "unpleasant and sobering reading".